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The Pilots Desk
US-FAA14 CFR 119.7

Operations specifications

Read the official rule

Operations specifications (ops specs) are detailed documents that accompany an air carrier or commercial operator certificate. They spell out exactly how that certificate holder is authorized to operate—what kinds of operations they can conduct, what limitations apply, and what procedures they must follow. The ops specs also specify procedures for operating different classes and sizes of aircraft in their fleet.

While ops specs work hand-in-hand with the certificate, they're technically separate documents (except for the section identifying what kinds of operations are authorized). Think of the certificate as the license to operate, while the ops specs are the detailed rulebook specific to that operator. For pilots, this matters because your company's ops specs define what you're actually authorized to do—which routes, aircraft, types of operations, and under what conditions. You must operate within these specifications.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*

This is an original plain-English explanation for training and reference, not legal advice and not for navigation. Always rely on the current official rule linked above. Last reviewed June 20, 2026.